Courts introduced into England after the
Norman Conquest dealing with certain offenses:
heresy, divorce, sexual immorality, disputes over wills, and other cases touching 'disputes over the human soul.' Generally these courts were held under the auspices of a
bishop or archdeacon, sometimes under an archbishop or pope. Anyone who could prove the 'benefit of the clergy' came under their jurisdiction. While trying to limit the power of Church courts Henry II incurred the opposition of Thomas Beckett, leading to the events that caused Henry to have him killed.
